Long before children begin to print or write letters and sentences, fine motor skills need to be developed and strengthened. I also feel that simple marks and doodles set the stage for strengthened printing and writing later in a child’s development. According to Saunders, “Hand skills refer to the strength and the dexterity (how well we can handle small objects) in our hands” (Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists, 2002, para. 2). Early exposure to pre-writing activities supports creative ideas and in turn lays the basis for language development later.
Activities to Promote Pre-Writing Skills
- Drawing basic shapes like circles, squares, and triangles helps to develop control and coordination.
- Exploring various art media tools such as crayons, markers, chalk and painting tools helps strengthen fine motor skills.
- Play dough – rolling, squishing, and shaping strengthen fine motor skills.
- Stringing beads strengthens fine motor skills.
- Scissor skills – cutting a variety of art media such as paper, felt, card stock, and newsprint.
- Puzzle exploration strengthens fine motor skills.
- Tracing lines – straight, zigzags, and curves strengthens fine motor skills.
- Outdoor activities – digging in the sand, drawing with chalk on the sidewalk, or painting with water on pavement supports large arm movements.
- Exploring various writing tools – pencils, crayons, markers, and chalk.
- Sensory exploration – a variety of textured materials.
Final Thought
I feel that by supporting your child’s pre-writing skills through various activities, you are embracing their scribbles, doodling, and helping them become future leaders, innovators, and communicators.
Reference
Saunders, D. Pre-writing for children under five. Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists. 2016.